Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-03-13
CATARRH

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THE TERM CATARRH IS APPLIED TO
peculiar disorder OF the nostiils and
adjacent parts, which prevails to an alarm.
ing extent and Is productive OF very serious
The most prominent and characteristics
feature is a morbid discharge from the
head, varying In its nature at different
In some there is an almost constant flow
OF clear acrid fluid, but oftener an offensive
purulentor -purulent, greenish- yellow
matter 1s secreted, which accumulates in
the nostrils or drops into the throat, neces-
stating Its frequent removal by blowing tte
nose or expeetoration, and often by both
processes. Sometimes patients feel as
though their whole head was In a state OF
rOttenness, so great Is the amount of matter
discharged and so fetid is its odor. The
patient Is greatly annoyed by the constant
dropping into the throat of the morbid mat
ter from the head, and as recum bent posi-
ton naturally favOrs the flow downward.
his rest is frequently disturbed from this
cause. Many sufferers are obliged to lie
with the head very much elevated in order
to sleep with some degree of comfort:
In others tough, viscid and offensive
phlegm collects behind and above the soft
palate, in the passage betw cen the throat
and head, adhearing to the parts with glu-
ish tenacity. Its lodgment embarrasses
respiration aud creates sens ,tion of irri
tation and uneasiness in the affected local
most irresistible desire to relieve the dis.
comfort by drawing the mucus into the
throat so DIS to eject 1t by the mluth. This
practice, popularity known as "hawking,"
is characteristic of catarrh, and proves as
embarrassing to the one affected as it is
disagreeable to those around him.
Again, the offensive matter hardens and
deposits itself on the membrane in the
81 ape of dry, bard connections, which are
discharged by way of the nostrils or throat
in Jumps or fragments of a deep green tint.
IN some cases these incrustatiUns accumu-
late to such an extent as to form regular
plug in the nose, which obstructs breathing
and produces serious discomfort. So firm
ly do these incrustations adhere to the
point OF attachment that their removal
usually requires the most violent efforts;
not unfrequently t. ey have to be torn from
the membrane. Occasionally solid cast
OF notable size Is expelled, on which there
are generally traces of blood. but IN some
cases the cast presents a tubular appear.
ance, being of exact shape of the nasal
cavity. This condition is indicative of ul-
ceration, which, in time, may destroy the
bony structure of the nose and produce
subsequent fattening OF that organ.
Gases are occasionally met with in which
thick viscid, Shiny secretion coats the
mem brane of the nasal cavities and then
putrlfies giving rise to stencil which is
really oyerpowering and su fficiently fetid to
poison the atmosphere of a whole room;
and there are others in which all the secre-
.ions of the membrane are suspended, caus-
Ing an unpleasant feeling of dryness, heat
and feyerishness in the head and nose-a
tarrh.'
The disease speedily extends to the air
cavities OF the bones OF the forehead and
face, giving rise to distressing sensation
forehead, especially in the region above
end between the eyes, and to feeling OF
fulness, heat, irritation, soreness or pain in
the nostrils near the root OF the nose, as
rrxNn tVSt lnn
above and behind the soft palate. Some.
times there is pain obstinately fixed in some
particular part, as in the temple on the top
OF the head. at the back of the neck, or be-
manifests itself In the face of SO severe a
character that 1t is frequently mistaken for
The breath is always tainted and at times
assumes an exceeding fetid and sickening
odor. In some cases it becomes SO revolt
ingly offensive as to render the sufferer an
object OF disgust to himself as well as to
others.
The nasal membrane is thickened and
congested, causing the nose to be stopped
up, sometimes on one side, sometime on the
other, and often on both, giving rise to-
disagreeable, stuffy sensation in the head.
and occasionlng violent and prolonged
paroxysms of sneezing.
The voice is weak, indistinct and husky
or of nasal character dis playing sort of
shifting quality. Oftentimes there is a con-
tinuous hoarseness and discordance. There
is also a sense of irritation in the throat,
and frequent attempts to clear the parts OF
phlegm, producing the sound Them" more
or less forcibly. In some cases patients
complain OF an uncomfortable feeling of
fullness, or choky ensation in the throat,
and in others of Distressing and almost
constant dryness, for the temporary relief
OF which they have to swallow frequently.
Others, again, speak OF constant bad or
nauseous taste in the mouth or throat.
Tho stomach pQuaral1y IN ffar or
less and becomes weak and irritable; the
appetite is capricious aud nearly always
bad in the morning. The patient Is Ian
g uid, unable to perform mental or physical
labor with the usual facility, Is nervous, de
pressed in spirits, at times fearful timd,
agitated and inclined to drowsiness and
sleep, the memory weakened and perma
nent impairment seriously threatened
The mucous membrane soon becomes
sensitive TO unfavOrable iniu
ences. and in spite of the utmost care be-
comes affected from the slightest causes. SO
that at last breath of wind upon the lining
a cold, end gives rise to serious disturb
ances OF the respiratory organs Thus the
patient is subject to frequent and repeated
colds. each attack aggravating the disease
larger extent or surface than its predecessor
In this manner the difficulty spreads from
organ to organ, invading the throat larnyx
trachea and bronchial tubes, until, en-
further and further. 1t reaches
The finer ramif fcations OF the broncbi. when
but slight impulse is required to send it
TO the lungs. Catarrh may, and often does,
affect other organs in the body. especially
hose containing mucous membrane, such
as the stomach, bowels, kidneys, etc.
By the employment OF proper inhalation
In the form of medicated vapor (not steam.
)r spray we are able to produce immediats
and direct action upon the diseased surface
in the pharynx and nasal passages, for al
will find its iuto tho and
Intricate cavities, where 1t is dtterly impos-
'ible to make fluid applications By these
means every case can be cured.
ozGNA.
ozoena is the professional or technical
lame given to an advanced form of catarrh
n which liberation has eaten through the
membrane lining of the nose. to the carti-
age OF the bone. Anv case OF catarrh may
md in eczema, but 1t most frequently occurs
a those who are naturally scrOfulous The
discharge takes place through the nostrQs
,r through the throat. and Is generally of
Iuently tinged with blood and almost al.
Pays attended by an offensivesmell. In the
language of DR.. Wood, of Philadelphia,
The disease Is one Of the most obdurate
o encounter. In bad cases the brealh of the
patient becomes SO revolving as to isolate
lim from society and to render him an OBJ
ect OF disgust even to himself" In some
Tough off, leaving deep, unhealthy ulcefs,
which secrete a bloody matter, and are ex-
remeiy difficult to heal. After tzena has
ontinued some time the sense of smell
sually becomes impaired and often lost.
Deafness Is one of its most common conse-
uenc,s, and results from its extension
through the eustachiantubest to the internal
ar. Pains in the head and over the ff6ntal
muses.. impairing memory. and even In.
anity frequently spring from Its extension
} the brain. The greatest danger, how
yer. because the most common is that 1t
ill extend downward and affect the lungs.
n most cases of pulmonary disease catarrh
present in some degree, and in many in
,ances 1t causes large share of the pa
ent's discomfort.
Besides these grave consequences. all of
hich are liable to spring from scrofulous
atarrh or ozgna, there are others which, II
'ss dangerous, are sufficiently unpleasant .
occasions great unhappiness to thousands
both sexes by isolating them and pre-
enting their settlement in life An ofen;